Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
"Yes,itwasonlyputthereacoupleofyearsago."
"Yoursisteraskedforit,Isuppose?"
"No,Ineverheardofherusingit. Weusedalwaystogetwhatwewantedforourselves."
"Indeed,itseemedunnecessarytoputsoniceabell-pullthere. YouwillexcusemeforafewminuteswhileIsatisfymyselfastothisfloor." Hethrewhimselfdownuponhisfacewithhislensinhishandandcrawledswiftlybackwardandforward,examiningminutelythecracksbetweentheboards. Thenhedidthesamewiththewood-workwithwhichthechamberwaspanelled. Finallyhewalkedovertothebedandspentsometimeinstaringatitandinrunninghiseyeupanddownthewall. Finallyhetookthebell-ropeinhishandandgaveitabrisktug.
"Why,it’sadummy,"saidhe.
"Won’titring?"
"No,itisnotevenattachedtoawire. Thisisveryinteresting. Youcanseenowthatitisfastenedtoahookjustabovewherethelittleopeningfortheventilatoris."
"Howveryabsurd!Inevernoticedthatbefore."
"Verystrange!"mutteredHolmes,pullingattherope. "Thereareoneortwoverysingularpointsaboutthisroom. Forexample,whatafoolabuildermustbetoopenaventilatorintoanotherroom,when,withthesametrouble,hemighthavecommunicatedwiththeoutsideair!"
"Thatisalsoquitemodern,"saidthelady.
